Brad Frost returned to his office a year ago at the conclusion of a season that would’ve been seen as successful for nearly any other school, a 24-win campaign with a No. 5 national ranking that only ended on the road at the hands of No. 2 Wisconsin.

He wore a gold tie and his usual thick-rimmed glasses as he exited the team bus and entered Ridder Arena, the home of Gophers women’s hockey that he’s turned into a massive memorabilia hall for the biggest prizes in the sport. He walked through the rink with its rafters so stuffed with banners that they’re unable to commemorate each of the 13 Frozen Fours reached. En route to his office, he walked down to the lower level past the mural that commemorates the 24 All-Americans Frost’s program has developed in his 12 years as head coach and the 10 Olympians its yielded.

Frost turned left into the modest coach’s room. On the walls hang photos of each Gophers women’s hockey national championship team. There’s...